Alaska field notes, v1299
Page 63
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
354 Gilmore 1931 SLENDER BILLED SHEARWATER Aug 31 Off N.E. Cape, St Lawrence Is. Saw a few scattered birds this evening - sea rough. Birds were flying low over the water and none seemed to be sitting on the surface. Sept. Off east side of St. Pauls Is, (59°17'N-16 9°53'W and 57°04'30"-169°43') About noon today we ran into large numbers of these birds. Many thousands were flying and many equal number were resting on the surface in large "rafts" of 100-500 individuals. Saw one small bunch of whales playing around. There were about 5- 6 in the group but it seemed a small accident number to afford an attraction to these "whale birds" which are supposed to feed on the whale excrement. However, I don't think they do, but rather are found where the whales are due to a fondness for the small Small fish & shrimps, upon school of which the whales feed. The Stomachs of the 15 birds obtained